Blue Cheese Soup

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

Works with Blue Cheese Soup · Squash/apple/blue Cheese Soup · Roasted Butternut Squash And Pear Soup With A Dollop Of Blue Cheese

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Blue Cheese Soup · Mushroom And Blue Cheese Soup · Roasted Butternut Squash And Pear Soup With A Dollop Of Blue Cheese

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Works with Blue Cheese Soup · Roasted Butternut Squash And Pear Soup With A Dollop Of Blue Cheese

Fortified · Full · Sweet

Fortified red from Portugal's Douro Valley — sweet, warming, and surprisingly versatile. Ruby and LBV are for everyday; Vintage and Tawny are for serious occasions. Pair with blue cheese, walnuts, or just a fire.

Works with Blue Cheese Soup · Roasted Butternut Squash And Pear Soup With A Dollop Of Blue Cheese

Fortified · Medium · Dry

Andalusia's fortified white — runs from bone-dry Fino through nutty Amontillado to syrupy PX. The dry styles pair brilliantly with tapas; the sweet ones replace dessert entirely.

Works with Blue Cheese Soup · Roasted Butternut Squash And Pear Soup With A Dollop Of Blue Cheese

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Méthode champenoise from the most chalk-rich corner of France — fine bubbles, brioche, lemon zest, and a finish that goes on for half a minute. The wine for anything fried, salty, or special.